Binaural stethoscope.



No. 700,728 Patented May 27, I902. R. G. M. BUWLES.

BINAUBAL STETl-IOSCOPE.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1902.)

Wit/26.55613. Java/Z502".

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. M. BOIVLES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BINAURAL STETHOSCOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,728, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed March 5, 1902. Serial No. 96,804. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. M. BowLEs, a citizen of the United States, residingin Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Binaural Stethoscopes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to binaural stethoscopes, and has for its object to provide a combination instrument embodying the bell of the ordinary stethoscope and the diaphragm of the instrument shown and described in United States Patent No. 677,172, granted to me June 25, 1901, whereby the two instruments are combined in one, so that the instrument can be converted substantially in an instant into either form of instrument to be used in those cases for which it is best adapted.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a combination binaural stethoscope embodying this invention, and Fig. 2 an elevation of the same converted into a bell instrument.

In practicing ausculation it has been claimed that for most cases superior results are obtained with a binaural instrument employing the diaphragm-receiver, but that in special casesas, for instance, in listening over the apex of the lung for fine rales, (namely, in incipient phthisis) and for listening for superficial sounds, such as a friction rub of a presystolic 1n urmursuperior results are obtained by using the bell instrument, and to provide a single instrument which combines both forms in a simple and convenient manner and one which can be converted substantially in an instant from one form to the other is the object of this present invention. For this purpose I employ the soundreceiving portion a of the instrument shown in the patent above referred to, which receiver is provided with the usual diaphragm adapted to be applied to the person being examined and has the rigid sound-conducting tube 1), and I connect the tube b with the bell c by means of a flexible tube cl and a rigid tube 6, which latter is inserted into the mouth of the bell and is fitted tight in the opening through the bell. The remaining portion of the instrument may be of any suitable or usual construction, but preferably that herein shown, it consisting of the rigid ear-tubes f, connected together by the spring 9 and joined by the flexible tubes 7b with the branches of the substantially Y-shaped rigid tube '21, which is connected by the flexible tubej with the bell c.

From the above description it will be seen that when the instrument is assembled as shown in Fig. 1 the diaphragm-receiver a is used, and the said diaphragm by reason of the flexible tube 61 can be readily applied to the person to be examined without interfering with the transmission of the sound, Whereas when it is desired to use the bell c-as, for instance, in the special cases above recitedthe diaphragm-receiver can be disconnected by withdrawing the rigid tube 6 from the bell, whereupon the instrument is converted into the ordinary form of stethoscope, as shown in Fig. 2, which after being used can be instantly converted back into the diaphragm-receiver form of instrument shown in Fig. 1 by inserting the rigid tube 6 into the bell c. It will thus be seen that in the instrument shown in Fig. 1 both kinds ofinstruments are combined into a single instrument which is compact, conveniently assembled, and convertible substantially in an instant, thereby avoiding the necessity of the physician carrying two instruments in order to make any desired examination.

I claim- 1. A binanral stethoscope comprising a diaphragm-receiver adapted to be applied to the person to be examined, ear-tubes communicating with said receiver, and a bell forming part of the communication between said eartubes and said receiver, and detachably connected with the latter, substantially as described.

2. Abinaural stethoscope comprisingadiaphragm-receiver a provided with the rigid sound-conducting tube Z), the bell c, a rigid tube 6 inserted into the mouth of said bell and detachably connected therewith, a flexible tube (Z connecting the rigid tube e with the sound-conducting tube of the receiver, and ear-tubes in communication with said bell, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT C. M. BOWLES.

Witnesses:

JAS. H. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY. 

